Musical instrument



Dec. 8, 1931.

.1. Ml MINTEER 1,835,892

MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT vFiled May 3l, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WMYQ,

ATTORNEY Dec- 8, 1931 .1. M. MINTr-:ER Y 1,835,892

' MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Fled.May 31, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nu u@ m QQ /l :zii: vENToR WITNES? f Zz'ni'eef 407. 7@ a; /i

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH M. MINTEER, F CANFIELD, OHIOA MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Vapplication medlay a1, 1930. seal No. 458,273.

This invention appertains to improvements in musical instruments generally and more particularlyto a wind reed type thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a musical rinstrumentl of the class set forth which will preferably be blow operated only and so constructed as to be readily and easily taken apart for cleaning purposes as well as for the quick repair and replacement of its parts; v j

Another object of the invention resides in the provision'of a piano type of key board for the actuation of the reed control valves,

the tones of the C major diatonic yscale beu ving indicated by white keys and Sharps and flats by black keys in an arrangement corresponding to that of the `same tonal control keys of a piano.

A further object of theinvention lies in ,o the provision of a bodily movable key board may be easily and quickly adjusted to different positions relative .to the reed control valves and whereby to change from one key to another. l l

vStill another object of the invention is to provide a Vnovel form of reed chamber ,which may be readily and easily removed and replaced from vand into operative position for cleaning andY repair purposes as well .as a control valve structure for each reed chamber employed, the several reedV control valves being mounted in a simple but effective manner whereby they may be quickly adjusted, re- 3'5 moved .and replacedwithout a complete take down of the instrumentin its entirety or the immediately associated parts of the valve operated mechanisms.

XVth the foregoing and other equally important objects andadvantages in view, the

invention residesin the certain new and useful combination, construction and arrangement of parts as Awill be hereinafter more j fully described, set forth in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: p Figure 1 is a top plan view of a practical embodiment of the improvedmusical instrument; I Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

of the type mentioned,fwhereby the same' Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the blow end of the instrument and showing the key board adjusted to a different position from that of the same in Figures 1 and 2 Figure 4 is an end elevation;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal lon- 60 gitudinal section through the body or air chamber of the instrument;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the reed chambers per se; ,e

Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 65 7 but showing one of the control valves per se; and

Figure 9 is another similar view of the key boar supporting and adjusting rod r se.

Referring to the drawings, whereln like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views thereof, the ernbodiment of the invention as shown therein by way of example only, is constituted in a hollow tubular body 10 having its forward end flared, as at 11, to substantially bell form and its rearwardly directed end of a reduced diameter, as at 12, for the attachment thereto of a mouth piece 13. The forward end of the interior of the body 10 is preferably so closed by a wall 14 at a point immediately ad'acent the bell portion 11 thereof.

rojecting from one side of the intermediate portion of the body 10 are a plurality of tubular members 15, which are alternately arranged in staggered relation lengthwise thereof and have their inner connected ends opening into the vinterior of the same, withv their outer ends open and all disposed in a common plane.

These tubular members 15 each constitutes a support or seat for a tubular reed chamber 16, which projects inwardly through the same and well into the interior of the body 10. The reed chambers 16 are each of a somewhat 95 less diameter than the interior diameter of the tubular members or supports 15, and has its open end projected through a supporting collar 17 which is formed to provide an inwardly directed reduced portion of a diameter reed, but, in the latter case, the reeds would have to be tuned to the same pitch. The use of the blow type of reed is to be much preferred, however, if only for sanitary reasons.

Without further description, it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a musical instrument, a hollow body, an air inlet at one end of said body, reed chambers positioned in a side wall of said body and opening outwardly thereof, control valves normally closing the outer ends of said reed chambers, spaced parallel brackets projecting from one side of said body, a rod mounted in said brackets, keys commonly pivoted on said rod for selectively actuating said control valves and means for releasing said rod for endwise adjustment in said brackets whereby to shift said keys relatively to certain of said control valves to change the key of the instrument.

2. In a musical instrument, an elongated hollow body, a mouth piece at one end of said body, reed chambers positioned in the side wall of said body and opening outwardly thereof, control valves normally closing the outer ends of said reed chambers, spaced parallel brackets projecting from one side of said body to either side of said reed chambers, a rod mounted for endwise movement in said brackets, keys commonly pivoted on said rod for selectively actuating said control valves, and means carried by one of said brackets for normally holding said rod against movement, said means being releasable to allow the adjustment of said rod to move said keys relatively to said control valves to change the key of the instrument.

3. In a musical instrument, a hollow body, an air inlet at one end of said body, tubular outlets in longitudinal alinement at one side of said body, reed chambers removably screw threaded inwardly of the outer ends of said tubular members and opening outwardly thereof, control valves normally closing said reed chambers and means for selectively actuating said control valves.

4. In a musical instrument, a hollow body, an air inlet at one end of said member, reed chambers arranged in longitudinal alinement at one side of said body, control valves normally closing the outer end of said reed chambers, keys pivotally mounted on said body adjacent said control valves, levers pivotally mounted on said body for cooperation with said keys and the actuation of said valves, and means for detachably mounting said valves ou said levers.

5. In a musical instrument a hollow body, an air inlet at one end of said body, reed chambers arranged in longitudinal alignment at one side of said body, control valves normally closing the outer end of said reed chambers and having levers pivotally mounted on said body, a rod carried by said body and having a plurality of keys pivotally mounted thereon, and means for selectively shifting said rod and keys into operative relation with certain of said levers.

6. In a musical instrument a hollow body, an air inlet at one end of said body, reed chambers arranged in longitudinal alignment at one side of said body, control valves normally closing the outer end of said reed chambers and having levers )ivotally mounted on said body, a rod carried by said body and having a plurality of keys pivotally mounted thereon, means for selectively shifting said rod and keys into operative relation with certain of said levers, and detent means for securing said rod and keys in adjusted position.

JOSEPH M. MINTEER. 

